Gear mechanism



W. E. AMBERG GEAR MECHANISM Dec. 28 1926. 1,611,981

Filed March 23. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inbsnior: Z ufness. zmaerfiflmerg q m. jg" I j Dec. 28 1926.

W. E. AMBERG GEAR MECHANISM bmJ V w 3 %j Q 4 4 l f Q $$E XA A 7 mw \w l v y mm 7 d) A 27 m \Q m wm zm/wmh wade?" [Z dZ/rzberg W Mf Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

warren WALTER E. aMBEnG, or orrroneo, farmers, assrenon TO WILLIAM 0. PETER-son when rarer lorries.

AND BERNARD L. nnenmrn, Borer or CHICAGO, rumors.

GEAR MECHANI$M.

Application filed March 23, 1922. Serial No. 545,921.

My invention relates in general to mechanisms comprising intermeshing gears and particularly to speed reduction means, and it has special reference to all such mechanisms embodying gear elements that are interlocking and, at the same time, may be adapted-to attain very great speed reductions at high efficiency through the intermediary of a few intermeshing gears only.

More particularly, my invention refers to gearing mechanisms of the character indicated in which one of the intermeshing gear elements is a usual type of bevelled gear that is actuated to be conically oscillatory and may or may not vbefasconditions of operation dictate, a rotatable gear while the associated gear may likewise be of the usual bevelled type of construction and stationary or rotatable, depending upon the character of the mechanism as well as the service demanded of my new invention.

One object of my invention is to provide a mechanism of the hereinbefore mentioned type which will be economical to construct and which will be eflicient in operation and embody very few parts that are capable of being manufactured in quantity production and readily assembled into an operative mechanism. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide a speed reduction mechanism of the character outlined above which is capable of effecting very great reductions in speed and, at-the same time, oftransmitting very efliciently large quantities of power.

A further object of my invention is to provide a mechanism such as I have indicated in which the gear elements may comprise teeth of standardconstruction, such gear elements having the same tooth pitch and being of substantially the same diameter and, when in intermeshing relation with one another, are conn-ectedthrough a substantially large number ofteeth thereby permitting of the efficient transmission of considerable quantities of power. V

Further obj ectsof my invention will hereinafter appear and be readilyapparent, from the description and'the drawings forming a part of .this-specificationto which reference may now be had for a more completfe'under-i standing of the characteristic features of my invention.

Fig. 1 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a mechanism of my invention and embodying a double conically oscillatory gear element that is adapted to intermesh with a second double gear element to effect a very great speed reduction;

Fig. 2 is a viewshowing the application of a universal joint anchoring means to the double faced oscillatory gear element of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of another mechanism embodying a form of my invention in which a plurality of units are coordinated for neutralizing the unbalanced thrustyupon the driven shaft.

WVhile I refer herein to oscillatory gears and conically oscillatory gears, it is to be understood that such gears are of the usual and common form of bevelled gear construction comprising standard gear teeth, and that the aforesaid designations refer to the motion of which the gears partake rendering the gears oscillatory or comically oscillatory and, when desired, rotatable or non-rotatable, as the designs of the various mechanisms requlre.

I am aware that it has been propozed to use conically oscillatory gears in speed reduction mechanisms wherein said oscillatory gear part-altos of a planetary movement about an associated gear element but, in my presentinvention. there is no planetary morei. 'ment requlred of the gears and, as a consequence, my device is practically noiseless. Again, I have providedmeans for anchoring the comcally oscillatory gear concentrically about an apex that is common to the intern'ieshing gear elements comprised in my device and in which the driving force applied to, or the power delivered from, the gears is uniform. I have also devised means whereby the maximum range through which the conically oscillatory or wobbling gear may oscillate is minimized to a value that will just effect tooth clearance between the inter-meshing gear elements. .This is, of

course, highly essential in commercial mechanisms embody ng a form of my invention, since all vibrat on and -arrmg is thus minimized and at the same time, permits of the intermeshing ()1 a large number of gear teeth whereby large quantities of power may be exchanged with high efliciency between the inter-meshed gears. The range of oscillation of which the conically oscillatory gear o'l my mechanism may partake is dependent upon the tooth pitch oi the intermeshing gear elen'ients and slightly in excess of the height of the gear teeth thereby just affording clearance between the intermeshing gears. In other words. the common apex of the intermeshing bevelled gears is defined by reason of the tooth pitch ot the gear elements. Again, in my mechanism, I. may incorporate, it I desire, a novel. form at gear anchoringmeans whereby the oscillatory gear is held concentrica ly ot' the common aqei; and the rotatable. short in such a manner that at all times, it is subjected to a uniformly applied force concentrically oi said apes:

and shaft By means 01 mechanisms embodying my present invention, 1 am able to ellect an interlocking between a driving gear elementand the driven gear element which permits of the driven gear element to be ro tated in either direction depending upon the direction of rotation of the driving gear element, but which precludes the driven gear element when impre d with a force tending to drive it, trom reacting in such a man. ner as to tend to drive the initially driving gear element. This interlocking adapts mechanisms embodying my invention to many us s wherein brakes or other agencies are now employed to serve the purposes which I have just mentioned.

Since my invent on is applicable to a very great variety oi specific mechanisms, 1 have shown it applied to two devices only, but in these devices which i have describet and illust ated l have endeavored to broadly classify the coordination of the various elements incmporatcd in my 3 sent invention to that any or ly and conveni itly constriu'rt various other inooifications embodying t broad features of my inventionv In Figs. 1 and 2 l have shown a wobhling gear element 21 which co prises gear teeth 28 tormed on one of its iaces and gear teeth 29 torn'ied on the opposite one of its faces. The wobbling gear element :2? is anchored by means of a unive joint 22, the vertical axis of the univ joint being pivoted at 23 and the horirontai a" il a coinciding with at 2 of the her- 1 h t 28 tituting one set upon the wobbling gea 27 are ada ted to mesh r with gear teeth 30 formed on agear element 31 and the gea r teeth29 oi"? the v oobiing gear .21 are adept d to mesh with gear teeth termed on the gear element 31. The gear element 31, which comprises two spaced and skilled in toe art may readi the mechanism opposed sets or" bevelled teeth 30 and is secured by a key 33 to the rotatable shalt which is supported in the bearing 11 formed in the framework 10. as hereinbetore described.

The pulley 13 which is loosely mountec upon the shaft 12 and locked against longitudinal movement by means of the collar 1st is provided with a longitudinally extending sleeve 34 through which the shaft 12 extends and upon which is supported a housing 35 for a double roller bearing. said housii g being secured to the sleeve 34. by means of a key 36. ()n rotating the pulley 13 an oscillating motion is imparted to tile wobbling gear 2'? which oscillates concentrically about the'conimon apex indicated at 2 1. The apex 2-4: is common to the bevelled gear 29 and the bevelled gear 30 formed-on the gear element 31, as well as to the bevelled teeth 28 and formed on the wobbling gear element 27. The wobhling gear element 27 comprises in each of its sets of teeth 28 and 29, one tooth in excess of the number oi teeth comprisec in the co-acting sets of teeth 30 and 32 set of gear teeth which intermesh at diametrically opposite points with the coacting sets of gear teeth 30 and 32 formed on the rotatable gear element 31. As a consequence, the longitudinal thrust imposed upon the wobbling; gear element 27 by the rotation of the pulley 13 is balanced. Oscillatory move ment is in'iparted to the wobbling gear element 27 through an oil-set bearing; 37 which is formed on the sleeve 34- and a slant of the axis or" the shaft 12 so that the slope of its nternal surface will be perpendicular to a bi-sectingz plane passed between the pitch circles of the bevelled gear teeth 28 and /Vhile the housing 35 for the ball bearings is mounted upon the bearing 37 and is keyed to the sleeve 84h the wobblino ear 27 is held against rotation by means of the universal joint and, therefore, rotary motion is imparted to the rotatably mounted double gear element 31 which is keyed to the shaft 12. From the foregoing description, it will be noted that it the pulley 13 is rotated clockwise the double element 31 will be rotated counter-clockwise, this by reason ot the fact that the inter-meshing); teeth formed on the eo-acting wobbling gear 27 comprise in each set one tooth in excess or the correspondingly ce-acting set of teeth formed upon the element 31. i because of the interlocking action between the gears 27 and 31 the shai't 12 cannot serve as a driving member for the pulley 13,

In the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and it will be noted that the wobbling gear 2'? provided with a double set of intermeshin gear teeth each s severally engaging a seaneinethe scribed.

it l-" 7 on the (Jo-acting gear element 31 thus ba1- longitudinal thrust; that the wobbling gear 27 is held against rotation through the agency ota universal joint anchora e; that each setoi gearrteeth on the wobbling gear 2? possesses a larger number of teeth than the co-actinp; set of teeth in the near element 31; that the wobblinp; gear 27 iswanchored concentrically aboutthe apex 24 which is common to all of the sets of bevelled gear teeth formed on the wobblinggear element 2'? and the {rear element 3 1, and that the driving force applied to the wobbling rear element 2? through the pulley 3 1s a 'adial thrust and, therefore, requires a ball bea i of the type illustrated at 35.

In Fig. 3 l have shown a mechanism comprising double units 81 and 82 which are positioned side by side and so coordinated that the driven shaft is entirely devoid of any longitudinal thrust. Each of the two units making upzthis speed reductionmecha nism comprises a double faced Wobbling gear element as will be hereinafter do Since the two units 81 and .82 are substantially identical. I will describe in detail the construction of the lett-handunit 81 only.-

A rotatable member-83 is loosely mounted upon a shaft 8% and serves as .the drivingelement for the mechanism and, at the same lTlIDG -EIS a housing for the two units 81 and S2 The shaft 8-iis journaled in bearings 85 and 86 that are formed in a" stationary frame 87, a portion only thereof being shown. A pairot similar andopposed gear elements 88 and 89 are severally keyed to the shaft 84 by means of a key 90. The gear element 88 is provided with a set of bevelled gear teeth 9l having their ape at92 and, similarly, the gear element 89 13 provided with a set ct bevelled gear teeth also having-r their apex at 92. A wobblinggear element 9%: is placed intermediate the gear elements 88 and 89 and is supported externally by means of an annular bearing 95 formed in the driving member 83 to which an annulir and flanged ring; 96 is secured in any suitable fashion. The wobbling gear ele men; 94.- is provided with an annular lateral extension 97 which terminates in two oppositely disposed bearing surfaces 98 99 upon which ball bearings 100 and 101, respectively, are adapted to ride. The ball bearings 10.0 and 101 are thus interposed-be tween the wobblinn' gear element 9- l-and the supporting driving member 83 i The annular bearing 95, which supports the wohbling gear element 98 is provided with inclined bearing surfaces wiich are so designed that the wobblin gear element will have imparted to it 1 2e proper coni oscillatory motion as hereinbefore described. The wobbling gear element 94 is provided withtwo setsot oppositely'disposed bevelled these two units and to 194 is held against .ro t2:

gear-teeth 102 and 103, likewise having the common apex 92, the set gear-teeth 102 being adapted to intermesh with the set-of gear teeth 91 and the set of gear teeth 103 being adapted to intermesh with the set or" teeth 93. It is to be observed that the set of gear teeth 102cngages withthe of gear teeth 91 at pointsdiametrically opposite to the points of engagement between the set 01"" gear teeth 103 and the set of gear teeth 98. In this manner, any longitudinal thrust resultingtrom the intermeshing of the oscillatory gear elementollel with the co-acting' gear elements 88 and 89 will be counter bal- .anced.

The bevelled gearvteeth 91. 102 and 103 have the common apex 92 about which they are concentrically disposed and the annular lateral extension 97, formed on the wohbling gear element 94:, is also prov led with her oiled gearteeth 10a which have the point 92 as their common apex. The bevelled gear teeth 'lOd are adapted to intermesh with coacting stationary bevelled teeth 105 which are formed on the frame 8'? and also have the common apex The gear teeth 10st and 105 constitute the external gear anchorage n'ieans "for the wobhling' gear The proper oscillatory motion is imparted to the wobbling gear element 9 1 by drivingthe ele meat 83. The wobbling gear element 9 .1, is

permitted to conically oscillate freely about the apex 92 but is held against rotation by reason of the gear anchorage comprising; the sets of bevelled gear teeth 104.- and 10?, each having the same number of gear teeth. T he .wobbling gear element 94 intermeshes with the gear elements 88 and 89 which, in turn, are keyed to the shaft 84-. and thus impart rotary motion thereto. he sets of teeth formed on the wobbling gear element 94 severally comprise one-tooth in excess of the co-acting sets 0t gear teeth formed on the two gear elements 88 and 89 such therefore, the shaft- 8 lis rotatedv in a direction opposite to the direction of the driving force applied .to the driving member 83.

Since the unit 82 is similar in all respects to'the unit 81, excepting that the unit 82 is placed back .to back to the unit 81, I will not describe this second unit. By reason vot this co-ordination of the units 81 and 82 all lon gz ituriinal thrust that tends t develop in be imposed upon the shaft 8% is completely neutralized and thus removed from theshat't 8%.

In the mechanism shown in Fig. 8, i be apparent that each unit 81 and 82 prises adonbla taced wohhling; gs anchored through a anchors nisin vthat is external of the co-i s reducing gears. The woliibling vinent .ion whee the gear elements .88and 89 .are'permitted to rotate and, therefore, to impart rotary more :lli to the need tie

driven shaft 84. Moreover, the wobbling gear element 94L comprises sets of bevelled gear teeth which have one tooth in excess of the teeth comprised in the sets of'gear teeth which are adapted to co-act therewith. The longitudinal thrust developed in the unit 81 is neutralized by reason of the two opposed thrust bearings 100 and 101.

lVhile I have shown and described modifications of mechanisms embodying different forms of my invention, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that numerous other modi'ications may be arranged which may comprise various features that I have pointed out in the devices which I have illustrated and described. These various permutations and combinations will, of course, be within the scope of my invention, and, because of the many modifications which may he made but which will be comprehended in the foregoing descriptions, l have deemed it not desirable to illustrate and describe each and every such modification, but I desire that only such limitations be imposed on my invention as are set forth in the appended claims.

Vl hat I now claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States l. A oneway interlocking mechanism comprising two spaced and opposed bevelled gears having a common apex, two bevelled gears having the same common apex interpo ed between said first gears and being severally associated therewith in intermeshinc; relation to constitute two pairs of intermeshing gears, said second gears being conicallv oscillatory about said common apex, a rotatable shaft encircled by all of said gears, means for anchoring said second gears concentrically about said common apex and for holding said second gears against rotation, said anchoring means effecting engagement at diamctrical points between said two pairs of inter-meshing gears. and means for imparting conically oscillatory motion in unison to said second bevelled gears thereby imparting rotary motion to said rotatable shaft.

2. A one-way interlocking mechanism comprising two spaced and opposed bevelled gears having the same number of teeth and a common apex, two bevelled gears having 7 the same number of teeth and the same commen apex inte posed between said first gears and being severally associated therewith in intermesh' N; relation to constitute two pairs of intern'ieshing gears, said second gears being conically oscillatory about said common "in, a rotatable shaft encircled by said are, means for anchoring said second gears concentrically about said common apex and said shaft whereby engagement may be effected between the intermeshing gears of said two pairs at diametrical points, and

means for imparting conically oscillatory movements in unison to said second bevelled gears which are held against rotation by said anchoring means thereby imparting rotary motion to said shaft.

3. A one-way interlocking mechanism comprising two spaced and opposed bevelled gears having the same number of teeth and a common apex, two bevelled gears having the same number of teeth and said common apex and being severally associated with said first gears in intermeshing relation to constitute two pairs of intermeshin gears, said second gears being differentiated from said first ears each by one tooth said ears being conically oscillatory about said common apex, means for anchoring said gears concentrically about said common apex and for holding them against rotation, said anchoring means effecting engagement between the gears of each pair at diametrical points, a rotatable shaft encircled by said gears, and means for imparting conically oscillatory movements in unison to said second bevelled gears in order to impart rotary motion to said shaft.

4. A one-way interlocking mechanism comprising two spaced and opposed bevelled gears having the same number of teeth and a common apex, two bevelled gears interposed between said first gears having the same number of teeth and said common apex, said second gears being severally associated in intermeshing relation with said first gears to constitute two pairs of intermcshing gears and said second gears being sonically oscillatory about said common apex, a rotatable shaft encircled by said gears. gear anchorage means for anchoring said second gears concentrically about said common apex and for holding said second gears against rotation, said gear anchorage effecting engagement between the gears of said two pairs at diametrical points in order to balance the longitudinal thrust that may be imposed on said shaft, and driving means for imparting conically oscillatory movements in unison to said second bevelled gears in order that said driven shaft may partake of a rotary motion.

5. In a mechanical movement, a shaft, and a speed reducing mechanism thereon and operatively connected t ereto, said mechanism comprising an annular and conically oscillatory wheel having beveled gears on its opposite faces, means engaging said gear adjacent the periphery thereof for oscillating said gear, and a double gear member fixed to said shaft and encircled by said oscillatory wheel and having ears epicyclic with the gears on the opposite faces of said oscillatory wheel.

6. In a mechanical movement, a shaft, and a speed reducing mechanism thereon and operatively connected thereto, said mechanism comprising an annular and conically oscillllll latory wheel having beveled gears on its opposite faces, means engaging said gear adj acent the periphery thereof for oscillating said gear, a double gear member fired to said shaft and encircled by said oscillatory wheel and having gears epicyclic with the gears on the opposite faces of said oscillatory wheel, and means for anchoring said oscillatory wheel against rotation comprising epicyclic gearing concentric with said shaft and arranged between said beveled gears and said means for oscillating said oscillatory wheel.

7. In a mechanical movement, a shaft, a pair of speed reducing mechanisms in tandem thereon for rotating said shaft, said mechanisms severally comprising oscillatory epicyclic wheels, and common means for oscillating said wheels, said wheels being oscillatory in opposite phase whereby thrusts therefrom may be neutralized in said means.

8. In a mechanical movement, a shaft, a pair of speed reducing mechanisms in ten dem thereon for rotating said shaft, said mechanisms severally comprising oscillatory epicyclic wheels, and common means rotatably mounted upon and concentric with said shaft for conically oscillating said wheels in opposite phase whereby thrusts therefrom may be neutralized in said means.

9. In a mechanical movement, a shaft and a pair of speed reducing mechanisms thereon in tandem and oi'mratively connected thereto, each of said mechanisms comprising the following: an annular and conically oscillatory wheel having beveled gears on its opposite faces, means common to both of said pair of mechanisms for engaging said gears adjacent the peripheries thereof for oscillating said gears in opposite phase, a double gear member fixed to said shaft and encircled by said oscillatory wheel and having gears epicyclic with the gears on the opposite faces of said oscillatory wheel, and means for anchoring said oscillatory wheel against rotation comprising epicyclic gearing concentric with said shaft and arranged be tween said beveled gears and said means for oscillating said oscillatory whee V a 10. In a mechanical movement, a shaft and a speed reducing mechanism thereon and operatively connected thereto, said mechanism comprising a pair of epicyclic gears conically oscillatory in opposite phase, means for anchoring said gears against rotation and means for oscillating said gears in opposite phase, whereby substantially complete compensation is effected for all thrusts of said gears except rotational forces on said shaft.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

W ALTER E. AMBERG. 

